Apparatus for washing eyes



G. 0. FHECERUTTI.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING EYES. APPLICATLON FILED JULY 17, 1919.

Fl 3 //7 van for Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

flfforney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, ,GI QACH INO cnnno rrtacnno'rrr, .OF roam, ITALY.

APPARATUS roa WASHING Eyes.

Application filed July 17, .1919.

To all whom it may concern:

- The present invention has reference, tov an apparatus by means of. which it is possible to wash the eyes without bringing the hands in contact therewith, and adapted to be used not only for therapeutic purposesbut, also to remove any foreign body that. may have passed under the eyelids orthat may adhere to the cornea.

The improved apparatus also enables per sons attacked by gas and more particularly by so-called lachrymose gas, to immediately wash the eyes whereby the immediate or subsequent action of these gases upon the organs of vision is either counteracted or modified. 1

For this purpose apparatus according to the invention comprises an eye vessel which by completely closing the orbital cavity keeps the eyelids open, the said vessel communicating with a receptacle such for instance as a rubber ball so as to enable a jet of liquid contained in the said receptacle to be directed upon the ball of the eye. The eye vessel is in the form of an almost semiellipsoidal cup and comprises in its interior two guards adapted to exercise pressure upon the eye-lids at such points as to compel them to uncover the globe of the eye when said vessel is applied to the eye.

The accompanying drawing shows a con structional form of apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the eye Vessel of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the complete apparatus and Fig. 3 is an internal view of the eye vessel.

As will be seen from these figures the apparatus comprises an eye vessel 1 of semiellipsoidal form the edge of which is curved and of such dimensions as to adapt itself to the orbital cavity and to close such cavity completely.

The end 2 of the vessel 1 which, when in use, is nearest the temple is adapted to laterally close the orbital cavity.

Inside the eye vessel are two guards 8 extending parallel or almost parallel to each other and projecting slightly beyond the edge of the shell as shown in Fig. 1. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17,1920.

Serial No. 311,540.

. distance apart ofthe said guards is such that. on applying the vessel tothe eye the pressure that they. exercise upon; the eye-lids ,whenclosedtends to openthem andcause them to slide, over the ball of the eye.

The vessel 1 at the side ofthe end portion is formed with a hole 4. to which there is connected a small tube 5 suitably inclined 111 ,such a direction that a jet of liquid issuing from the said tube into the-vessel 1 may be directed upon the ballof the eye.

' To the outer end of the tube is connected a rubber-tube 6. that communicateswith a bulb adaptedto hold the liquid with which thewashingis tobe effected.

In order to use the apparatus all thatis necessary is to apply the edge of the vessel 1 to the closed eye and exercise a slight pres sure until the orbital cavity is completely closed by the vessel. During such an opera tion the guards 3 cause the opening of the eyelids so that upon compressing the bulb 7 there is directed upon the uncovered ball of the eye a ct of the desired liquid which carries away any foreign bodies that may have got under the eye-lids or that adhere to the cornea. Such liquid comes into contact with all the parts likely to become infected or inflamed. The same liquid contained in the bulb 7 may be used for washing both eyes, care being taken, after having washed one eye, to allow the bulb to expand progressively so that it can again suck up the liquid contained in the vessel 1. Such an operation is facilitated by the fact that the hole -11: is located on one of the sides of the vessel. 1 and can thus be located at the lower part of the vessel for one of the eyes and this eye. should be the first one to be washed.

The inner surface of the vessel 1 may be either smooth or roughened so as to retain any small foreign bodies which are carried along by the jet of liquid, and its form may be different to that shown provided that it be such as to completely close the orbital cavity and to compel the eye-lids to remain open when the apparatus is in position.

It will be readily understood that with the aid of the improved apparatus anyone is able effectively to wash the eyes without having to bring his hands into contact with them thus avoiding any irritation of the eye.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 151-- 1,. An apparatus for washing eyes comprising a vessel the edge of which is adapted to close the orbital cavity, members in the interior of said vessel and projecting from its edge, adaptedto act on the eyelids to open the same, and means connected with said ves- 'sel and adapted to direct a liquidfjet into said vessel on the eye ball.

2. An apparatus for Washing eyes comprising a vessel the edge of Which is adapted to close the orbital cavity, two longitudinal guards in the interior of said vessel and projecting from its edge, adapted to act on the eyelids to open the same, and means connected with said vessel and adapted to direct a liquid jet into said vessel on the eye ball;

-3. An apparatus for Washing eyes CO1D- prising a vessel the edge oi which 1s adapted to close the orbital cavity, members in the 7 interior of sald vessel and pro ecting irom;

its edge, adapted to act on the eyelids to open the same, an inclined pipe opening in said vessel and means connected With said pipe and adapted to direct a liquid jet through the same into said vessel on the eye ball.

4. An apparatus for Washing eyes comprising a vessel theedge of which is adapted to close the orbital cavity, members in the interior of said vessel and projecting from its ed e, adapted to act .on the eyelids to open tie same, an inclined pipe openingin said vessel at a side thereofand means connected With said pipe and adapted to direct a liquid jet through the same into said vesseland laterally on the eye ball.

7 5. Anapparatus for Washing eyes comprising a vessel adapted'to close the orbital cavity and having a semi-ellipsoidal shape,

two guards in said vessel adapted to act on the eyelids to open the same, said guards being located parallel with the long axis of V GIOAGHINO CARLO PRECERUTTL 

